Make the most of Family Fun Month – and beyond

It’s never too late to make a positive change that revitalizes some part of life. With August being Family Fun Month, now is an excellent opportunity to spend some more time with those near and dear to us.

It’s never too late to make a positive change that revitalizes some part of life. With August being Family Fun Month, now is an excellent opportunity to spend some more time with those near and dear to us.

Even though school season is kicking in, it doesn’t take too much time or effort to incorporate a little time with loved ones every so often, and the effects of doing so can be refreshing. Here are some simple and engaging ways to spend more time with the people close to you.

Find a family hobby – Do you have a favorite hobby or activity that is suitable for other people to take part in? Getting together with your family to enjoy that hobby and hone your skills can be an excellent way to spend more time together.

“Playing tennis with my dad nearly every weekend has been a great way to relax and de-stress,” said Turlock High junior Teerakorn Pongpipat. “Not only is it a fun hobby for both of us, but I’ve also been able to get better at things like position and control.”

Make use of the outdoors – Being cooped up indoors all day typically doesn’t jibe with most people’s definition of fun. You may find it refreshing to take a break every so often and do something outside. Given the bounty of the outdoors, the chances are good of finding something that you and your family would enjoy.

“River rafting, swimming and sightseeing are a few of the activities that my family and I like to do together,” said Amanda Medina, a junior at Turlock High. “There really are so many ways of having fun outdoors with your family.”

Put on a family game night – A little friendly competition never hurt anyone. A family game night captures the spirit of Family Fun Month, as it can be perfect for bonding you and your loved ones together in a lively and engaging way. Dust off the board games, pull out the playing cards, or bring out the checkers. “There’s usually something enjoyable for everyone to find in playing games or having fun contests,” said Teerakorn.

Enjoy meals together – Sometimes we get so caught up in life that we forget about the joys of relishing small pleasures. One of these is simply cooking and enjoying meals together. Having a family meal is perfect for bonding and learning about one another’s accomplishments of the day or week. “Barbecuing with my family has long been one of my personal favorite ways to spend time together,’’ said Amanda. “It’s a lot of fun and you get to build some great memories.”

Henna Hundal is a junior at Turlock High School and a member of The Bee’s Teens in the Newsroom program.